The Devil You Know | Wizarding World

chapter eleven | start digging your grave

It had been a couple of weeks since the meeting at Hog's Head, and Rosie couldn't help but feel impatient. Every day, she waited for some message from Harry or Hermione regarding the location of the meetings, but nothing ever came her way. When she saw the new educational decree put up by Professor Umbridge stating the banning of all student organizations, she knew it was a sign that Umbridge had some sort of idea what was going on. Rosie hoped Dumbledore's Army wasn't already finished before it even got the chance to start.

However, Rosie's disappointment faded when she finally heard from Hermione about a location and the first meeting, and she had a feeling that something good would come out of this organization. For once, she felt hopeful.

During her study session with her Slytherin friends at the library, not too long before she had to leave and head for the first Dumbledore's Army meeting, Rosie began to get nervous, trying to prepare the questions her friends would ask and what was going to happen at this meeting. She didn't think she'd be able to convince her friends with whatever lie she came up with, nor did she think any of the other students a part of Dumbledore's Army would take her seriously or even accept her. She couldn't think joining was a mistake, because deep down, it felt right, no matter what anyone else thought, including her friends.

"You know, I'm starting to wonder if this'll really be on our exam for McGonagall's class next week," Gavin commented, reading over his Transfiguration textbook.

"Knowing that old bat, she'll put it on there," Greer said in a bitter tone.

"Don't call her that," Adam interjected. "She's a good teacher."

The blonde girl let out a scoff, rolling her eyes. "Hardly."

As much as the comment towards Professor McGonagall annoyed her, Rosie chose not to respond to it (as arguing with Greer just made things worse, anyway) and checked the clock above the entrance of the library, and when she saw the time of the meeting getting closer just by a few minutes, she began to pack up her books. "I've gotta go," she told the others.

"Where are you going?" Adam asked.

Rosie glanced at the three, her heart beating fast. "I, um...I just remembered that I told Neville earlier that I'd help him with his Potions project tonight."

"Can't he get someone else to help him?" Greer asked annoyingly.

"I already promised him," she stated, getting up from her chair. "I'll see you guys tomorrow." With that, she turned around and quickly strolled away before any of them could say anything else to her.

Rosie quickly made her way to the stairs, climbing to each level until she reached the seventh floor, where her pace quickened down the corridor. The stone wall ahead of her began to disappear and an iron door revealed itself, to which Rosie opened the door, closing it behind her as she entered the Room of Requirement, finding everyone else standing around as she walked across the room and placed her bag on the floor.

"Hey, Rosie," Harry greeted her. "You're just in time. We're about to start."

Smiling, she joined Neville nearby, who was gripping his wand tight in his hand, with a nervous expression on his face.

"You okay, Neville?" Rosie asked.

He nodded his head. "Yeah, just a bit nervous, that's all," he admitted.

Her smile turned sad. "It's going to be fine. Besides, it's the first meeting, so I think everyone's a bit nervous." She wasn't sure if that was the case, but if it made Neville feel less anxious about it, then that was all that mattered.

"All right, line up, everyone!" Harry called out, to which everyone obliged and got in a single file line. "Okay, so today we'll be practicing disarming. It's a simple charm but very useful during a duel. We'll just go through the line and let everyone have a chance." He pointed towards the wooden Death Eater dummy up front, his wand at the ready. "Expelliarmus!" The wand from the dummy flew out of its hand, falling onto the floor.